Fall-board for pianos



(No Model.)

W. F. KRAGHT.

FALL BOARD FOR PIANOS. No. 602,808. Patented Apr. 19,1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM F. KRACI'IT, OF MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN.

FALL-BOARD FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,808, dated April 19, 1898.

Application filed April 2 l 1 8 9 7.

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. KRAOHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Clemens, in the county of Macomb and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fall-Boards for Pianos, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the construction of a cover for the keys of a piano, which is usually called the fall-board, and particularly in the construction of such board with guides for the same, so that it may be slid backward into the case above and clear of the keys and entirely out of the way of the fingers of the player; and to this end the invention consists in such a sliding board arranged and constructed substantially as herein described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of part of the keyboard of a piano, showing my invention applied thereto with the cover or fall-board partly open. Fig. 2 is a cross-section showing the fall-board closed. Fig. 3 is a detail section showing the construction of the roller-bearing upon which the faP-board preferably moves.

A is a part of the case of the piano, and B are the arms or ends of the keyboard-frame, which usually projects at about the middle of the piano and in which the keys G are supported.

D is a fall-board or key-cover. It is customary in pianos at the present time to make various kinds of hinged fall-boards, which turn back or up when the keys are to be uncovered. These hinged fall-boards cost considerable money to build, being usually in several pieces, requiring hinges and other littings, besides being in the way of the music or music-rack.

My construction enables me to make a fallboard in a single piece, if desired, and to move it inside the casing entirely out of the way and in no way interfering with the'music or music rack, besides dispensing with all hinges, &c.

The fall-board has the top portion a and the downwardly-bent front portion 1). At or near its rear edge it is provided with bearings c, which are adapted to engage with guides $erial No. 633,105. (No model.)

or guideways E, preferably formed in the end boards B. These bearings may consist of rollers F, as shown in Fig. 3, or pins G, secured to the rear of the fall-board. This would be sufficient guide for the fall-board except for the fact that it is necessary to maintain the front edge above the keys in pushing it back, and I therefore provide a guide'which will do this. The construction which I prefer and that which I have shown consists of guide-strips H, secured at each end of the keyboard, beside the end pieces B, and having the substantially vertical portion cl at its forward edge, the horizontal portion 6, and the inclined portion 72; In the closed position of the board front flange 1) rests over the vertical portion d, so as to make it necessary to lift the fall-board slightly so it will clear the keys before moving it inward, and in thus lifting it it turns or hinges on its rear guide. It may then be allowed to rest upon the guide-strips H and will run along the top thereof across the horizontal portion until it comes to the inclined portion h, upon which it will ride, so as to lift the front edge of the flange or lip up into the casing and out of view or out of the way of the players fingers.

For convenience of manufacture I preferably arrange an entering-slot I, connected with the guide-slot E, and when the parts are together arrange stops J to prevent the accidental lifting of the guide-rollers into the entering-slots I.

IVhat I claim as my invention is- I. In a piano, the combination with the case and keys, of a fall-board to cover the keys, guides in the ends of the case, in which bearings on the rear portion of the fall-board engage, and on which it may be slid into the case, and guides for the forward portion of the board, formed and arranged to permit of the downward movement of the forward edge of the board when the latter is in its forward position and to prevent said downward movement while the cover is being slid back to keep it clear of and abovethe keys in such sliding motion.

2. In a piano, the combination with the case, and keys, of a cover for the keys adapted to be slid backward into the case above the keys, said cover having the downwardly-projecting portion or flanges b, of a guide for the rear portion of the cover, and the guides H for the front portion, having the incline 71 for the purpose described.

3. In a piano, the combination with the casing and keys of the end boards or arms B, having the guide-slots E and the enteringslots 1, of the fall-board having the top a and the front flange b, the roller-bearing F at the 10 rear of the fall-board engaged in the guideslots E of the end guides H, having the horizontal guide portion c and the rear incline portion h the parts being arranged as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature I 5 in presence of two Witnesses.

XVILLIAM F. KRACIIT.

Vitnesses:

M. B. ODoeHEnTY, O'r'ro F, BARTHEL. 

